What could be merrier this Christmas than little ones and grown-ups singing together? We have picked the most popular Christmas music for kids that you can sing along to with your children or your students. All these songs have something that is child-related, e.g. stories, wishes, Christmas gifts, etc.
What comes first is a video with 2 hours with the best Christmas music, followed by 10 songs that were selected with children in mind. These are compositions that will bring joy even to the youngest friends, with melodies that are easy to sing at their age. A link after each video will lead you to a free printable PDF with lyrics to the song.
At the end of our article you can find our links to our entire instrumental catalog for the Holidays. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
- Kids’ Christmas Music in Video
- 10 Christmas instrumentals especially selected for kids (Music Only)
- Christmas Music for kids – 50 Free Instrumental Songs in English
Kids’ Christmas Music in Video
10 Christmas instrumentals especially selected for kids (Music Only)
1.
Fum Fum Fum
“Fum fum fum” is a traditional carol from Catalunya, Spain. It tells the story of the birth of the Holy Infant, calling the shepherds to gather in its birthplace and adore him.
Kids love this song because it’s written in a minor scale, but it’s fast and playful thanks to the repetitive “Fum fum fum” line.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
2.
The Little Drummer Boy
This popular Christmas song was written by the American classical music composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941, based upon a traditional Czech carol.
Unlike other holiday songs that fast and party-style, the Little Drummer Boy appeals to kids because it tells a heart-warming story on a slow tempo that reaches a climax thanks to the drum.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
Click here to see a tutorial video for an easy piano version
3.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is a song written by Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer published by the Montgomery Ward Company.
The second best-selling Christmas song of all time is a real mood fixer and all kids enjoy it to the max.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
Click here to see a tutorial video for an easy piano version
4.
Oh, come, little children
(Ihr Kinderlein, kommet)
Catholic priest and writer Christoph von Schmid wrote the lyrics of the song in 1798. Johann Abraham Peter Schulz composed the music as known today, and it has been published around 1832.
The song was translated from German to English by Melanie Schulte (1885-1922), and very young kids seem to love this.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
5.
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” is a Christmas song originated by a poem by Emily Huntington Miller (1833-1913), published as “Lilly’s Secret” in The Little Corporal Magazine in December 1865, as the lyrics in common use closely resemble Miller’s 1865 poem.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
6.
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie in 1932 and was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934.
This composition has such a cheerful melody that children can’t resist. No wonder this has been translated in so many languages, from Spanish to Greek.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
7.
Willie, Take your Little Drum (Pat-a-pan)
“Willie, Take your Little Drum (Pat-a-pan)” is a Christmas carol from France, originally written in Burgundian by Bernard de La Monnoye and published in 1720.
Its title is onomatopoetic, mimicking the sound of the drums of shepherds gathering around the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Apparently, the same shepherds also play the flute, as indicated in the lyric “tu-re-lu-re-lu”.
The original title of this carol was “Guillô, Pran Ton Tamborin” (literally “Willie, Take Your Little Drum”).
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
8.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” was first published in 1780 in a children’s book printed in England. Though this popular carol is generally considered to be an English song, there is evidence that it could actually be French in origin.
This is definitely one of the Christmas songs that are most popular with kids, because singing its lyrics can turn out to be real fun.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
Click here to learn how to play “12 days of Christmas” by watching a tutorial video for an easy piano version
9.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is a traditional English 16th century carol and the only one amongst traditional holiday carols that makes a reference to the celebration of the New Year.
Besides its popularity, this song is particularly loved by little carolers, because of its teasing lyrics that promise that they “won’t go until they get some”.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
10.
O Christmas Tree
“O Tannenbaum” was originally a traditional German folk song, which turned into a Christmas Carol in the early 20th century. The lyrics refer to the Tannenbaum, a fir tree, that is admired as a symbol of faithfulness and constancy.
This is popular with children because its English version has become a staple melody of the Christmas holiday.
Click here for Free Printable Lyrics in PDF
Christmas Music for kids – 50 Free Instrumental Songs in English
Getting prepared for a fantastic Christmas event?
Singing Bell has made all these great instrumental tracks available for free. Alternatively, you can purchase our Christmas Karaoke Albums and always have them on your smartphone or other mobile device.
There we go!
A
- Adeste fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)
- Angels from heaven
- Angels we have heard on high
- Away in a Manger
B
C
D
F
G
H
I
- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
- I Saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
- I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing in)
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
J
L
O
- O Christmas tree
- O Holy Night
- O Little town of Bethlehem
- Oh, Come, Little Children
- Our Christmas medley
R
S
T
- The 12 Days of Christmas
- The Coventry Carol
- The First Noel
- The Holly and the Ivy
- The Huron Carol (Twas in the Moon of Wintertime)
- The Little Drummer Boy
W
- We Three Kings
- We Wish you a Merry Christmas
- What Child is This? (Greensleeves)
- While Shepherds Watched their Flocks
- White Christmas
- Willie, Take Your Little Drum (Pat-a-pan)
- Winter Wonderland
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